Major Fortnite update could change Star Wars games forever

Starting today, the Fortnite Unreal Editor gets a range of Star Wars assets that allow fans worldwide to create their own games in a galaxy far, far away. It’s not just a collection of lightsabers and Force abilities, although those are also part of the update. Epic Games and Lucasfilm are enabling Fortnite developers to create experiences with all their favorite Star Wars characters, including Luke Skywalker and Din Djarin from “The Mandalorian“. Users can also experiment with legendary vehicles such as X-wings and TIE fighters.

Star Wars has been a part of Fortnite before, but Epic’s UEFN update is significantly more extensive than a themed Battle Pass or a limited-time mode. The new tools allow developers to create any Star Wars experience imaginable. A trailer showcasing the new Star Wars tools for Fortnite developers reveals examples such as a Luke Skywalker side-scroller, a Mario Party-style multiplayer game where players ride tauntauns, a Battlefield-esque battle on Hoth, and a Pilotwings-style minigame where a TIE fighter flies through multiple rings.

Crucially, players no longer need to spend money to equip certain skins that were previously only available in the Fortnite shop. If a developer creates a Chewbacca game, fans can jump right in and play Chewbacca. All objects are programmed to function as they would in Star Wars, but players can customize almost everything to their liking. For example, with an X-wing, fans can change the spaceship’s speed and rate of fire. This also means that fans can theoretically create their own lightsabers in UEFN. Classic Force abilities like “Push” and “Mind Trick” are also available.

Fortnite Star Wars update brings new Force abilities

The update introduces a number of new Force abilities, including healing, enemy detection, and protective barriers. Unlike Fortnite’s Battle Royale mode, none of these mechanics are tied to the use of a lightsaber. Some familiar elements, such as the Mandalorian’s jetpack, have been improved—the flying device now allows omnidirectional movement, enabling players to fly and shoot simultaneously. The developers also have access to finer details, such as a Star Wars-inspired user interface and fonts.

With this update, Epic introduces a new dialogue system that promises even more immersive role-playing experiences for fans. One of the starting maps utilizes this mechanic by allowing players to converse with NPCs in a cantina. Theoretically, this could lead to the development of a game in the style of Mass Effect, where action is just as important as dialogue.

The update includes three “starter islands” developed by Epic in collaboration with Disney. They are intended to give players a taste of the customization possibilities. According to a Blog post Epic Games’ creations include “the icy tundra of Hoth, the sand dunes of Tatooine, and the lava fields of Nevarro.” Fans will also gain access to classic locations like the Death Star and the Mos Eisley Cantina. While the tools for creating Star Wars islands are available starting today, publishing your own creations won’t be possible until May 1st. Until then, Epic will introduce additional features to the toolkit, including support for first-person shooters.

Epic Games anticipates thousands of Star Wars islands. To improve discoverability, fan-created Star Wars maps will have their own dedicated section in Fortnite, highlighting new and noteworthy islands. As with all other fan-made maps, creators will be paid based on player usage of their islands – however, according to Epic Games, Disney will receive 20% of the revenue.

According to Epic, this pack combines seven years of Star Wars battle royale content into one package. The only thing missing seems to be the AI ​​technology Epic experimented with for Darth Vader last year. Nevertheless, it’s a substantial update that firmly places the future of Star Wars games within Fortnite’s sphere of influence. After all, officially licensed Star Wars games are few and far between – and in some cases, it takes years before they become playable.

Given the success of Steal the Brainrot, which at times attracted more concurrent players than many AAA titles, we know there’s a Fortnite fanbase that also wants to play games outside the Epic Games universe. Until Arcanaut Studios releases Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic or Quantic Dream launches Star Wars Eclipse, an ambitious fan could beat them all to the punch and develop a deep, interactive Fortnite story that’s completely free to play.